Kiel in focus: International conference on ammunition disposal starts!

Kiel in focus: International conference on ammunition disposal starts!

An estimated 1.6 million tons of old ammunition from the two world wars, including bombs, mines and chemical warfare agents, are stored in the waters of the North and Baltic Seas. This poses a significant risk not only to the environment, but also to the safety of fisheries, shipping and infrastructure. The internationally significant Ammunition Clearance Week, taking place in Kiel from June 18 to 20, 2025, brings together over 200 experts from 16 countries to address these challenges.

The conference will particularly focus on the heavily polluted Kolberg Heath in front of the Kiel Fjord. An enormous amount of ammunition was dumped here after the Second World War. The contaminated sites release toxic substances that threaten both marine biodiversity and could have long-term effects on human health. Toxic substances include carcinogenic compounds such as TNT and RDX, which leak from the rusting metal casings of ammunition.

New technologies for ammunition recovery

Innovative approaches to recovering these dangerous contaminated sites are also on the conference agenda. The use of autonomous underwater vehicles and artificial intelligence to identify and recover munitions is a central topic. The first pilot projects with new technologies have been running in the Baltic Sea since July 2024. Particular attention is being paid to the development of an autonomous recovery platform, which should be ready for use by the end of 2026.

Conference participants also expect valuable know-how from a delegation from Ukraine, which brings expertise in mapping and surveying. This collaboration could be crucial to overcoming the technical challenges of underwater recovery.

The dangers of contaminated ammunition

Although current research reports show that old ammunition in the German North Sea poses no acute danger to humans, concerns about the environment and marine biodiversity remain. It has been found that some marine organisms, such as mussels and fish, can be severely affected by the constant release of chemicals from corrosive ammunition. The European research project sheds light on this North Sea Wrecks, which is run by the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven, examines the ecological consequences of contaminated sites.

During investigations in the Baltic Sea, 5,000 tons of chemical munitions have already been dumped, which can release toxic substances when they come into contact with water. These substances contain carcinogenic compounds that accumulate through the food chain and could ultimately affect humans.

Ammunition recovery initiatives

The Federal Environment Ministry is investing around 100 million euros in ammunition recovery by 2025. The first test rescues are already underway in the Bay of Lübeck as part of a Germany-wide pilot project. These measures are intended to help minimize the dangers of contaminated ammunition. It is also being discussed how the disposal of such contaminated sites can be made more effective, such as destruction at specialized facilities.

The Environment Agency has also taken measures to improve data on the threat posed by munitions to the marine environment. Past accidents have shown that the dangers are real and it is essential to continue to pay attention to this issue. Ammunition has already been discovered, especially during construction work offshore, which endangers the planning and safety of the projects.

Overall, the upcoming exchange at Munitions Clearance Week is crucial to finding solutions that both protect the environment and ensure safety at sea. Time is of the essence because the legacy of past wars is increasingly becoming a threat to the current generation.